According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Americans replace 3 million HVAC systems and spend about $14 billion annually on services and repairs.
If you’ve been spending a lot on your HVAC yourself, it may be more practical to get it replaced instead. It’s even more crucial if your system is nearing or past its estimated service life.
While an HVAC replacement can be a considerable expense, it’s worth it for many health and safety-related reasons.
To that end, the experts at KD Mechanical in Leesburg, VA, put together this guide discussing how replacing your old HVAC system can protect your home and your loved ones. Read on to discover the many benefits that this investment can bring.
1. Help Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), central air conditioners can last between seven and 15 years. The trade organization also estimates furnaces’ lifespans at 15 to 25 years and heat pumps at 10 to 15 years.
If your existing HVAC system is nearing or past that point, you may have noticed that it no longer performs as efficiently as it once did. Worse, you may be experiencing more headaches due to the piling bills caused by frequent heating and air conditioner problems.
However, one issue you may not have attributed to your aging and inefficient HVAC system is poor IAQ.
How Old HVAC Systems Can Impact IAQ
The older your HVAC system is, the less efficient its air filters can be, especially compared to newer models. Their filters capture fewer air pollutants, so more dust, debris, pollen, and dander can enter the system.
Old age can also affect your HVAC system’s ability to dehumidify the air. When this happens, your home’s indoor humidity levels may become too high, promoting mold and mildew growth. According to the U.S. CDC, mold and mildew can cause symptoms like coughing and wheezing.
Another way your old HVAC system can contribute to poor IAQ is through aging, leaking, and dirty air ducts. When your ducts leak, unfiltered air can enter through the holes and gaps and mix with the conditioned air that you and your family can breathe in. Besides, old leaky ducts waste energy by allowing already-cooled or heated air to escape.
All those issues can result in poor IAQ, which, according to the U.S. EPA, can cause short- and long-term health effects, such as:
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Respiratory diseases
- Heart disease
HVAC Replacement for Better Air Quality
An HVAC replacement lets you choose among models with better air filtration abilities. For example, many new models are compatible with air filters with higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) ratings. The higher a filter’s MERV rating, the better it will filter pollutants, helping you boost your home’s IAQ.
An HVAC upgrade can also help you address your existing system’s inability to regulate indoor humidity. After all, a new system works efficiently with its brand-new components. Just remember that although it’s new, you should still schedule it for routine HVAC system maintenance to ensure it stays efficient.
If your central air conditioner and heater are old, you should consider switching to a mini-split HVAC system. Mini-splits provide heating and cooling through zoning and do not require ducts. Each indoor unit also has a built-in air filter, improving your home’s IAQ.
Mini-splits are also very efficient, using up to 60% less energy.
2. Minimize Dangers of Electrical Fire and Shock Hazards
Old and severely inefficient HVAC systems can cause fire risks due to electrical faults. Likewise, they can be electrical hazards due to problems with their aging wires and electrical components.
Fire Risks of Old HVAC Systems
According to FireRescue1, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) estimates that around 24,000 electrical fires occur in the U.S. annually. Old, outdated appliances are among the top culprits or contributors to these incidents.
An old HVAC system can lead to an electrical fire by causing a circuit overload. It overloads a circuit by pulling in more power because it can no longer efficiently condition your home’s indoor air. Since it’s now inefficient, it needs to use more energy to try and do its job.
At the very least, a circuit overload can cause your circuit breaker to trip, resulting in a power interruption at home. While you can reset the breaker, frequent and prolonged tripping can damage it, putting your home at even more fire risk.
A circuit overload can also be dangerous because excessive current can cause electrical wires to overheat. Overheating can melt insulation and cause sparks, potentially leading to a fire.
Electrical Shock Hazards of Old HVAC Systems
Aging electrical wires in old HVAC systems can become damaged or exposed. The same can happen if they keep causing circuit overloads. Damaged or exposed wires can cause your old HVAC system to become a source of electrical shocks.
Electrical shocks can cause minor unpleasant sensations but can also result in burns, per Medical News Today. They may also cause headaches and even loss of consciousness.
HVAC Replacement to the Rescue
To prevent your aging HVAC system from posing electrical hazards, consider hiring professionals to replace it and install a new air conditioner or heater. If you choose a highly experienced, licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, you can rest assured they will install your new system per all safety codes.
3. Reduce Risks of Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerants are heat transfer media. In HVAC systems, these chemicals absorb heat energy from a source and then transfer it elsewhere.
Let’s use your air conditioner as an example.
When your AC’s refrigerant enters the system’s evaporator coils, it’s in a cold, liquid form. Here, it absorbs heat and moisture from the air to make it easier to cool as the air passes over the cold coils.
After absorbing the heat, the refrigerant changes into a warmer, vaporized state. It then moves on to the unit’s compressor, which compresses or pressurizes it and makes it hotter than Leesburg’s summer outdoor air. From there, the refrigerant travels to the outdoor condenser coils, where the heat gets expelled.
Fascinating, isn’t it? However, as incredible as refrigerants are, they can be safety hazards, too, considering they are chemicals. Your aging HVAC system can put your home and family in harm’s way if it leaks refrigerants.
How Old HVAC Systems Can Leak Refrigerants
Formicary corrosion is one of the primary causes of refrigerant leaks in old HVAC systems. It happens when contaminants in your home’s indoor air mix with water on the evaporator coils’ surface. The combination results in formic acid, a mild acid that attacks copper, a metal most often used in HVAC coils.
Formic acid bores holes into the copper tubing, creating tiny pinhole leaks over time. Your AC’s refrigerant can then seep out of these little holes.
As for the outdoor coils, damage caused by severe weather is a common culprit.
Regardless of the cause of the leaks, they can put you at risk of refrigerant exposure, which can cause refrigerant poisoning. At the very least, these leaks can cause your AC to perform poorly and inefficiently.
Why Replace an HVAC System Leaking Refrigerants
If your HVAC system leaks due to formicary corrosion, chances are, it’s pretty old. As mentioned above, this type of damage occurs over many years.
The older your HVAC system is, the more likely it is to use R-22, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). The U.S. EPA phased it out in 2020, and while it’s still available, the U.S. no longer allows its manufacturing and importation. For this reason, supplies will become scarcer, and as the law of demand and supply states, the scarcer a good is, the more expensive it can get.
So, if your system is old enough to be still using R-22, consider replacing it rather than getting it repaired. It’s the more practical and eco-friendly choice, as new HVAC systems use refrigerants that are less harmful to the environment.
4. Avoid HVAC-Related Water Damage
A refrigerant leak can also cause your HVAC system’s evaporator coils to freeze. The longer this goes on, the thicker the ice that could form on your system’s coils and the more water it could produce when it thaws. All those fluids can then overtax your HVAC system’s drain tray and lead to water damage.
Please remember that water damage isn’t just an expensive repair. It can also encourage mold and mildew growth, which, as discussed above, can cause health effects and contribute to poor IAQ.
Frozen HVAC coils don’t always warrant a complete system replacement, as they can also result from easy-to-fix issues like clogged air filters. However, if your HVAC system is old and has already seen so many repairs, it’s more economical to replace it.
5. Prevent Dangers of Furnace Gas Leaks
If your home in Fairfax or Loudoun County, VA, still relies on an old gas furnace, a gas leak is one of the top concerns you may face. Furnaces can leak natural gas (one of the most common heating energy sources) or combustion gases.
Dangers of Gas Leaks
Although natural gas is generally safe if used correctly, if it leaks, it can cause health problems and even fires or explosions. Such problems can occur due to wear and tear on gas lines and furnace components.
You’ll know you have a natural gas leak because suppliers add mercaptan to it, which makes it smell like rotten eggs. If you ever experience this, please turn your furnace and gas valve off, open as many windows as possible, and evacuate everyone at home. Then, call your gas company and a heating system repair specialist for help.
Combustion gases are byproducts of burning natural gas. If your furnace’s heat exchanger cracks, these toxic gases can leak.
Why Replacing a Furnace Makes More Sense
The heat exchangers in furnaces are durable, often lasting as long as the heating system. So, if yours cracks, it’s likely due to old age. In this case, getting a contractor to replace your furnace with a better, more efficient system to help improve home efficiency and safety is wise.
6. Ensure Adequate Cooling and Heating
Your home is your haven, protecting you from the hot, muggy summers and chilly, snowy winters of Fairfax or Loudoun County, VA. It works hand in hand with your heating and air conditioning system to keep you cool and comfy during the hot seasons and warm and cozy during cold days.
However, once your HVAC system becomes too old and inefficient, your home can become too hot or cold for comfort. Inefficiencies may start as inadequate airflow, followed by hot and cold spots, and ultimately, no heating or cooling.
Prevent your home from becoming oven-hot-like or freezer-like by ensuring your HVAC system gets a pre-seasonal tune-up. However, once it’s too old and has become more of a money pit due to repetitive repairs, it may be best to replace it.
7. Keep Your Home’s Energy Bills Down
An aging, inefficient HVAC system can turn your house into an energy vampire, consuming more energy than necessary. When this happens, your energy bills and your home’s carbon footprint can skyrocket. The higher its carbon footprint, the more significant its environmental impact.
HVAC technology has improved so much over the years that today’s models consume less energy than even those manufactured a few years ago. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner with a newer, more efficient model can reduce your cooling costs by 20% to 40%!
So, if you want to protect your home and wallet while also doing your part in saving the environment, consider getting your old HVAC system replaced.
Ready for a High-Quality HVAC Replacement?
Now that you know how an HVAC replacement can help protect and benefit your home and family, it’s time to choose a trustworthy contractor.
KD Mechanical is the top choice for all your heating and air conditioning needs. We’ll use our 50+ years of combined experience to ensure your HVAC replacement meets your energy-efficient cooling and heating needs. We serve Fairfax and Loudon Counties and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Speak to us today to schedule your HVAC replacement or request a service quote!